Good Project Front-Running Railway Winner

Good Project lifted trainer Chris Waller to a 10th group I victory this season after grabbing the lead early and running on strongly to win the Aus$1 million Railway Stakes (Aus-I) at Ascot.

 

With Craig Williams aboard, Good Project dictated the pace while Mr Utopia, Hazzabeel, and runner-up Messene lurked throughout, but the winner had too much in hand and triumphed by two lengths. Balmont Girl was a half-length back in third, and Black Heart Bart fourth. Delicacy, the favorite was sixth in the 14-horse field. 

 

"He is now a group I winner and it gives me a great thrill to come over to Perth and win one of their biggest races," said Williams. 

 

Good Project earned his first black-type in his stakes debut while covering 1,600 meters (about one mile) in 1:34.52 on turf rated as good.

 

Justine Hales, foreman for Chris Waller Racing, expressed the stable's delight with the 4-year-old's performance.

 

"He is a lovely colt and he is a lovely horse to deal with," Hales said of the son of Not A Single Doubt. "Everything he does he just takes in his stride and that is what has helped him."

 

Waller trains Good Project for Macau-based owner C.C. Lai. He has a 5-8-3 record from 21 career starts. Waller provided Lai a group I win earlier this month when Delectation in the Darley Classic at Flemington.

 

Bred in Australia by Richard Pietrykowski, Good Project was an Aus$300,000 (US$306,120) purchase at the 2013 Inglis premier yearling sale from consignor Mike O'Donnell's Fairhill Farm.

 

"He was an outstanding yearling that had great presence. He always had the right attributes to be a group 1 horse, and he's proven that today," O'Donnell said of the winning colt, who is out of the winning Final Card mare Euchre.